15th (Scottish) Division

The history of 15th (Scottish) Division

This Division was established by the Scottish Command in September 1914, as part of the Army Orders authorising Kitchener’s Second New Army, K2. Early days were somewhat chaotic, the new volunteers having very few trained officers and NCOs to command them, no organised billets or equipment. The Division was inspected by HM King George V on 26 September 1914 – the first occasion on which the Division paraded as a formed unit, and with the exception of the Staff, plain clothes were worn. By 22 January 1915 the Division was in uniform for an inspection by Kitchener. By the early summer of 1915, the Division was considered to be ready for France and embarkation orders were received on 3 July 1915.

7-13 July 1915 : landed in France. The Division served with distinction on the Western Front for the remainder of the war, taking part in most of the significant actions and winning regard by the enemy as one of the most formidable in the British army.

1915
The Battle of Loos

1916
In spring 1916, the Division was involved in German gas attacks near Hulluch (27-29 April 1916) and in the defence of the Kink position (11 May 1916). These are among the engagements officially known as the Actions of Spring 1916.
The Battle of Pozieres*
The Battle of Flers-Courcelette* in which the Division captured Martinpuich
The Battle of Le Transloy* in which the Division took part in attacks on the Butte de WarlencourtThe battles marked * are phases of the Battles of the Somme 1916

1917
The First Battle of the Scarpe**
The Second Battle of the Scarpe** in which the Division captured GuemappeThe battles marked ** are phases of the Arras Offensive
The Battle of Pilckem***
The Battle of Langemark***The battles marked *** are phases of the Third Battles of Ypres

1918
The First Battle of Bapaume+
The First Battle of Arras+The battles marked + are phases of the First Battles of the Somme 1918The Battle of the Soissonnais and of the Ourcq including the the attack on Buzancy, a phase of the Battles of the Marne 1918
The Final Advance in Artois

The order of battle of the 15th (Scottish) Division

44th Brigade

9th Bn, the Black Watch

left February 1918

8th Bn, the Seaforth Highlanders

9th Bn, the Gordon Highlanders

left January 1915

10th Bn, the Gordon Highlanders

left May 1916

7th Bn, the Cameron Highlanders

joined January 1915, left as a cadre June 1918

1/4th Bn, the Black Watch

joined November 1915, left January 1916

8th Bn, the Gordon Highlanders

joined May 1916, left as a cadre June 1918. Named 8/10th Bn from May 1916

44th Machine Gun Company

joined 12 January 1916
left to move into 15th MG Battalion 17 March 1918

44th Trench Mortar Battery

joined 25 June 1916

4/5th Bn, the Black Watch

joined June 1918

1/5th Bn, the Gordon Highlanders

joined June 1918

45th Brigade

13th Bn, the Royal Scots

6/7th Bn, the Royal Scots Fusiliers

joined as 7th Bn September 1914, became 6/7th May 1916, left February 1918

6th Bn, the Cameron Highlanders

11th Bn, the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

left as a cadre in June 1918

45th Machine Gun Company

joined 12 February 1916
left to move into 15th MG Battalion 17 March 1918

45th Trench Mortar Battery

joined 17 June 1916

1/8th Bn, the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

joined June 1918

46th Brigade

7th Bn, the King’s Own Scottish Borderers

8th Bn, the King’s Own Scottish Borderers

merged and became 7/8th Bn, May 1916

10th Bn, the Cameronians

12th Bn, the Highland Light Infantry

left February 1918

1/4th Bn, the Suffolk Regiment

joined November 1915, left February 1916

1/4th Bn, the Seaforth Highlanders

joined November 1915, left February 1916

46th Machine Gun Company

joined 11 February 1916
left to move into 15th MG Battalion 17 March 1918

10/11th Bn, the Highland Light Infantry

joined May 1916, left February 1918

46th Trench Mortar Battery

joined 20 June 1916

9th Bn, the Black Watch

joined February 1918, left as a cadre May 1918

4/5th Bn, the Black Watch

joined May 1918, left June 1918

1/9th Bn, the Royal Scots

joined June 1918

Divisional Troops

7th Bn, the Bedfordshire Regiment

left February 1915

7th Bn, the Leicestershire Regiment

left April 1915

9th Bn, the Gordon Highlanders

joines as Divisional Pioneer Bn January 1915

11th Motor Machine Gun Battery

joined 23 June 1915, left 22 July 1916

225th Machine Gun Company

joined 19 July 1917
left to move into 15th MG Battalion 17 March 1918

15th Battalion Machine Gun Corps

formed 17 March 1918

Divisional Mounted Troops

B Sqn, the Westmorland & Cumberland Yeomanry

joined 23 June 1915, left 10 May 1916

15th Divisional Cyclist Company, Army Cyclist Corps

formed 23 December 1914, left 21 June 1916

Divisional Artillery

LXX Brigade, RFA

LXXI Brigade, RFA

LXXII Brigade, RFA

left 20 January 1917

LXXIII (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA

broken up 1-3 December 1916

15th Divisional Ammunition Column RFA

15th Heavy Battery, RGA

raised with the Division but moved independently to Gallipoli and was attached to 10th (Irish) Division in 1915

V.15 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery RFA

joined November 1916, left 9 February 1918

X.15, Y.15 and Z.15 Medium Mortar Batteries RFA

formed by June 1916; on 9 February 1918, Z broken up and batteries reorganised to have 6 x 6-inch weapons each

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